Chapter 6 BLOG

http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Liquor+thief+breaches+house+arrest+sent+jail/3144320/story.html

Summary:

Vincent Mark Barton a 41 years old man was sent to jail eleven days after being handed an 18-month conditional sentence for seven counts of theft under $5000. He was caught stealing two bottles of liquor from a provincial government liquor store. He violated his conditional sentence which forbids him to leave his residence, to enter a liquor store and to keep the peace. As the result, Barton was given an additional one-month sentence for this theft. Barton claimed he had to steal bottles of gin and rum to pay for morphine because he had a very painful infected foot. He also argued that the sentence was unfit, but the judge didn’t agree because Barton had a long criminal record - 150 convictions, many theft.

Connection:

The connection that I made with this article and chapter 6 was on theft and cash. Barton had convicted seven theft under $5000. These theft will cause businesses to lose assets. This will effect cash and inventory. Each time the goods are stolen less cash will be generated due to less produces will be sold. Businesses usually tightens their internal control when a theft had occurred. An element on internal control that will be tighten is “physical measures”. Physical Measures aimed at protecting the assets from theft, diversion, damage or destruction. Businesses usually counters theft by installing alarm, purchasing locks and setting up metal bars. This falls under tightening internal control.

Reflection:

This article made me realize that many businesses need to improve their physical measure by installing alarm and using locks to limit the activities of thieves like Barton. Barton stole seven times before he actually got caught for stealing. It also showed me that businesses need to improved their security because Barton had a long criminal record or stealing, but continued to steal shows the weak security of many businesses these days. The government should make the alarm system mandatory for every business, so the number of theft will be lowered.